# Accident 20221109017399A: Vans RV7, Centennial, CO, November 9, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 9, 2022, 10:50 local time
- Place: Centennial, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5711° N, 104.8416° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5711&lon=-104.8416&mi=10
- Aircraft: N771RG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N771RG-2023-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7 (registry code 056264P, https://openairdocs.org/model/mulholland-robert-a-vans-rv-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A (registry code 41857, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV7
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 868 total, 737 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221109017399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) WAS DEPARTING ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE PAVED SURFACE AND SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. THE PIC AND HIS PASSENGER WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE ON BOARD AND NEITHER RECEIVED ANY INJURIES. THE WEATHER WAS VFR WITH WINDS OUT OF 350 AT 11 KNOTS, SKY CLEAR AND TEMPERATURE OF 12° C. THERE WERE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF WIND SHEAR BY AIRCRAFT ARRIVING ON RUNWAYS 35 LEFT AND RIGHT. RUNWAY 10 AS AN OPTION TO ALLOW GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT A SHORTER WAIT FOR DEPARTURE. THE PIC STATED THAT PREFLIGHT AND RUNWAY WERE ALL NORMAL. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PIC STATED THAT THE CROSS WIND WAS STRONGER THAN HE EXPECTED BUT THAT HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. THE PIC STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ROSE OFF THE RUNWAY MAYBE 5-10 FEET AND THEN VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND CONTACTED THE GROUND. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO TOUCH DOWN AGAIN HARD AND BOUNCE WITH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK. THE PIC IMMEDIATELY CUT POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT TURNED SHARPLY RIGHT AND BOUNCED AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN UNEVEN PORTION OF GROUND AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND TO A STOP FACING WEST. THE PIC OBSERVED FUEL COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND INSTRUCTED HIS PASSENGER TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT WHILE HE SECURED IT. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES. THE AIRPORT RECOVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO A HANGAR AND INSURANCE DECLARED IT A COMPLETE LOSS. THE WIND COMPONENT FOR THE RUNWAY PER THE ATIS WAS 10 KNOT CROSSWIND WITH A 4 KNOT TAILWIND.  THE REPORTED WIND BY THE TOWER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT SHOWED AN 8 KNOT CROSSWIND WITH A 4.5 KNOT TAILWIND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA032), Nov 9, 2022: Mulholland Robert A Vans RV-7 (N771RG), Englewood, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with windshear during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to takeoff with a tailwind.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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